Annual FCN Mass Celebrates Alumni and Student Leaders

The Fitzpatrick College of Nursing held its 33rd Annual Alumni Mass and Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 19, 2024, in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church. Donna S. Havens, PhD, RN, FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor, presented the awards, and Rev. Robert P. Hagan, OSA, JD, ’87 CLAS, celebrated the Mass.

Four Villanova alumni were honored with the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing Medallion for distinguished achievement: Anne Krouse ’81 BSN, Janice Kim Delgiorno ’96 BSN, Tresa Zielinski ’90 BSN and Sharon Turner ’82 VSB, who had received her award earlier this year. Senior student awardees included Thomas Caputo, Lily Nguyen, PJ Scarperi and Annarose Bernardo.

After presenting the awards, Dean Havens addressed the recipients, saying, “Anne, Janice and Tresa, thank you for all you do—and have done—to enhance the reputation of this College and this University. Your careers are built on advocacy and leadership and your disruption of the status quo to create better systems for the students, nurses and populations you serve is exceptional.  

“To our students—Thomas, Lily, PJ and Annarose—you are well on your way to unique and impactful careers, and we can’t wait to watch that happen.”

Read more about FCN’s honorees below.

ALUMNI AWARD RECIPIENTS

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Sharon Turner ’82 VSB

Sharon Turner, a 1982 graduate of the Villanova School of Business, is a longtime, generous supporter of the College of Nursing and Villanova. A member of the College’s Board of Consultors from 2013 until 2021, she served as both Chair and Chair Emeritus. Mrs. Turner helped to revitalize the mission and bylaws for the Board and create an entirely new committee structure designed to increase engagement, all the while serving as a champion for the College with its internal and external stakeholders. She began her career in public accounting with PWC in Philadelphia, became a Certified Public Accountant and moved into the private sector. For several decades, Mrs. Turner has partnered with her husband in their car dealerships, currently as Vice President of Turner Automotive Group. She has opened her home to host Villanova New Student Send Off events, represented the University at college fairs, and has served on class reunion committees as well as the Provost’s Board. Mrs. Turner is also the proud parent of a Villanova nurse—her daughter Gillian ’15 BSN, ’21 DNP, is a nurse anesthetist.

EXCELLENCE IN NURSING EDUCATION
Anne Krouse ’81 BSN

Dr. Anne Krouse, Dean of the Widener University School of Nursing, has dedicated more than 25 years of her career to educating nursing students at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. She is recognized as an influential leader in the development and delivery of nursing education, publishing and presenting regularly on the topic. Under Dr. Krouse’s direction, Widener’s School of Nursing has been repeatedly named a Center of Excellence, and in 2023, was the only recipient in the category of advancing the science of nursing education. Dr. Krouse is President of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Nursing Schools Association (PHENSA) and completed two consecutive three-year terms as the National League of Nursing (NLN) Treasurer in 2023. She has received many recognitions including the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) Honorary Membership Award in 2020, a fellowship in the Leadership in Academic Nursing Program for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in 2013, the Fitz Dixon Innovation in Teaching Award in 2012 and the Excellence in Leadership Award, Eta Beta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International, in 2011.

DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP IN NURSING PRACTICE
Janice Kim Delgiorno ’96 BSN

Janice Kim Delgiorno, Trauma Program Director and Trauma Advanced Practice Nurse at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ, is a leader in the field of trauma nursing. She oversees the Level One Trauma Program throughout the continuum of care, from injury prevention through discharge, performance improvement, research, and trauma education and registry management, with over 5,000 annual contacts. Ms. Delgiorno is also the civilian lead for collaboration with Cooper’s Trauma Military Training program, carrying budgetary responsibility for Trauma Support Services. She takes every opportunity to teach as an adjunct clinical faculty member at Widener University and as a National Instructor for the Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses course. She was the revision chapter leader for the Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses textbook in 2017-18. Ms. Delgiorno is a national member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and has actively participated in its Speakers’ Bureau since 2004. An exemplary and passionate leader, coach and mentor to her trauma nurse practitioner team, she enthusiastically promotes team building, achieving a 100 percent retention rate in her staff over five years, as she works to realize the best patient outcomes.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE IN NURSING
Tresa Zielinski ’90 BSN

Dr. Tresa Zielinski is a pioneer in pediatric acute care, embodying unparalleled clinical excellence with her work in the pediatric emergency department of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. Now an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in its infectious disease department, she is one of the few pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) on the Pediatric Pandemic Network and the only PNP on the National Pediatric Readiness Project through the US Department of Health and Human Services Emergency Medical Services for Children Innovation and Improvement Center. Dr. Zielinski has completed many medical missions to Guatemala and was the Director of Nursing and Advanced Practice on the Board of Directors of the former not-for-profit Latin American Medical Providers. Throughout her unique nursing history in critical care nursing, advanced practice with pediatric kidney transplants, cardiac and medical complexity/technology dependence, she has kept her focus on children and families while espousing St. Augustine’s servant leadership. Dr. Zielinski has been President of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and Chair of the Alliance for Children in Trafficking (ACT).

STUDENT AWARD RECIPIENTS

THE REVEREND FRANCIS X.N. MCGUIRE, OSA AWARD OF THE VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Thomas Caputo

Thomas Caputo has demonstrated his leadership abilities and commitment to the College of Nursing through both his academic pursuits and student involvement. An Honors student, he received the 2023 Judith Erickson Undergraduate Student Award for academic achievement and co-published two articles in collaboration with faculty and students that same year. Thomas actively serves his fellow students as Vice President of the Undergraduate Nursing Senate and as a peer mentor in the Simulation and Learning Resource Center. His deep knowledge of Villanova and desire to share his experiences with prospective students and families earned him a top spot as a Senior Lead Nursing Ambassador. There is no doubt that Thomas will remain an enduring and excellent representative of Villanova and the College of Nursing as he begins his career in critical care nursing.

ROSE WOYTOWICH O’DRISCOLL STUDENT SERVICE AWARD
Lily Nguyen

Lily Nguyen’s outstanding dedication to the College of Nursing (FCN) and Villanova University community are illustrated by her unwavering commitment to academic integrity and core values. Faculty describe Lily as an independent, self-motivated leader whose clinical work is consistently above criteria. Selected for the Villanova Match Research Program for First Year Students, she collaborated with a faculty member on the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program for Food-Insecure Families project. Lily represented the College at the Eastern Nursing Research Society Annual Scientific Sessions in 2023, presenting on Native American/Indigenous Children and Maltreatment: A Systematic Review of the Literature. On campus, she has contributed to fostering a sense of unity and inclusivity, volunteering for community outreach programs, leading student organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, serving on the Undergraduate Nursing Senate and LEAD Professional Development Program Advisory Committee, and becoming a lead Resident Assistant on West Campus.

THE HAZEL JOHNSON LEADERSHIP AWARD
PJ Scarperi

PJ Scarperi is dedicated to advancing health care practices and improving pediatric oncology patient outcomes. He was selected for a Susan D. Flynn Nursing Oncology Fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia during summer 2023, when he conducted a mixed methods study, combining quantitative and qualitative research, that was supported by both his Villanova Undergraduate Research Fellowship (VURF) and his Davis Family Student Undergraduate Research Scholarship. In March 2024, PJ became the first nursing student to represent Villanova at the Big East Research Symposium, presenting Caring Beyond Cure: Perspectives of Pediatric Oncology Nurses on Palliative and End of Life Care. With an article under review at the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing, he also presented his work at the Eastern Nursing Research Society Scientific Sessions in Boston, Mass., where he won second place for Undergraduate Poster Presentation, and will present again at the Oncology Nursing Society Congress in Washington, DC, in late April. PJ founded the College’s Men in Nursing student group, and after he graduates in May, he will become a pediatric oncology nurse resident at CHOP.

H. ELAINE MCCAULLY AWARD FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
Annarose Bernardo

Annarose Bernardo provided a level of compassion, empathy and intelligence during her clinical rotations that showcased her superior clinical performance as a Villanova nurse. While demonstrating proficiency in conducting neurologic assessments and documentation, evaluating care plans and providing medications, Annarose prioritized educating her patients and maintaining a safe environment. On two separate occasions, family members contacted the College to praise Annarose for her exceptional care, organization and responsiveness, noting that she was able to calm their anxious loved ones. An outstanding Nursing Ambassador for the College’s recruitment events, Annarose also stepped up to serve as group leader on the Practicum in Health Promotion and Home Health spring break experience to Ghana this year. She further showed her commitment to patients and populations through her service on NOVAdance and to the profession through her involvement in the Villanova Chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP). Annarose is launching her career as a neurologic critical care nurse and will be a valuable resource for future Villanova nurses as an alumni ambassador.